Info on Remote Assistance / remote control of server

Hi all,

In the past I've always used PCAnywhere to do remote control of servers and
workstations. I've just put in a Windows 2003 server for a client and I'd
like to use the Remote Assistance feature instead if possible, but I don't
know beans about this capability.

I set up a remote desktop connection easily enough, but that gives me a
separate session. I need to control the "main" session on the server instead
for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the desire of the client
to follow along by watching the screen as I do things.

Might someone point me to some resources on how to set this up, if it's
possible, or give me some pointers on the matter?

Many thanks!

/gary

The best examples are at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...st/default.asp

Note that if the users are behind a NAT firewall and you are on the
internet, you may have difficulties with Remote Assistance. In this
case, you should have a VPN connection into the remote LAN.

Jeffrey Randow (Windows Net. & Smart Display MVP)
jeffreyr-support@remotenetworktechnology.com

Please post all responses to the newsgroups for the benefit
of all USENET users. Messages sent via email may or may not
be answered depending on time availability....

Remote Networking Technology Support Site -
http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com
Smart Display Support - http://www.smartdisplays.net
Windows XP Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 08:29:15 -0600, "Gary McDonnell"
<garymcdonnell@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>In the past I've always used PCAnywhere to do remote control of servers and
>workstations. I've just put in a Windows 2003 server for a client and I'd
>like to use the Remote Assistance feature instead if possible, but I don't
>know beans about this capability.
>
>I set up a remote desktop connection easily enough, but that gives me a
>separate session. I need to control the "main" session on the server instead
>for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the desire of the client
>to follow along by watching the screen as I do things.
>
>Might someone point me to some resources on how to set this up, if it's
>possible, or give me some pointers on the matter?
>
>Many thanks!
>
>/gary

Thanks Jeffrey.

I've read through that article and I'll give it a try. Doesn't seem that the
Remote Assistance request process can be automated and/or ongoing (allowing
me to connect and disconnect at will to the "real" session), and the client
won't usually be there when I need to remote into the server. I have to be
able to get to the main session to check the backup processes and other
processes and to walk the customer through things on occasion (they're a bit
obsessive about certain things).

I hate paying the extra $$ for PCAnywhere 11 when this is so close to what I
need.

/gary



"Jeffrey Randow (MVP)" <jeffreyr-support@remotenetworktechnology.com> wrote
in message news:jmnhvv8cs32jogqh3b0go59bam8pdm2d5h@4ax.com...
: The best examples are at
:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...st/default.asp
:
: Note that if the users are behind a NAT firewall and you are on the
: internet, you may have difficulties with Remote Assistance. In this
: case, you should have a VPN connection into the remote LAN.
:
: Jeffrey Randow (Windows Net. & Smart Display MVP)
: jeffreyr-support@remotenetworktechnology.com
:
: Please post all responses to the newsgroups for the benefit
: of all USENET users. Messages sent via email may or may not
: be answered depending on time availability....
:
: Remote Networking Technology Support Site -
: http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com
: Smart Display Support - http://www.smartdisplays.net
: Windows XP Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
:
: On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 08:29:15 -0600, "Gary McDonnell"
: <garymcdonnell@hotmail.com> wrote:
:
: >Hi all,
: >
: >In the past I've always used PCAnywhere to do remote control of servers
and
: >workstations. I've just put in a Windows 2003 server for a client and I'd
: >like to use the Remote Assistance feature instead if possible, but I
don't
: >know beans about this capability.
: >
: >I set up a remote desktop connection easily enough, but that gives me a
: >separate session. I need to control the "main" session on the server
instead
: >for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the desire of the
client
: >to follow along by watching the screen as I do things.
: >
: >Might someone point me to some resources on how to set this up, if it's
: >possible, or give me some pointers on the matter?
: >
: >Many thanks!
: >
: >/gary
:

Hold on - saw in another group you suggested using the command line option
/console. That seems to do what I need - I have access to the main session!
Thanks Jeffrey.

/gary


"Gary McDonnell" <garymcdonnell@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ekKGyDG1DHA.2412@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
: Thanks Jeffrey.
:
: I've read through that article and I'll give it a try. Doesn't seem that
the
: Remote Assistance request process can be automated and/or ongoing
(allowing
: me to connect and disconnect at will to the "real" session), and the
client
: won't usually be there when I need to remote into the server. I have to be
: able to get to the main session to check the backup processes and other
: processes and to walk the customer through things on occasion (they're a
bit
: obsessive about certain things).
:
: I hate paying the extra $$ for PCAnywhere 11 when this is so close to what
I
: need.
:
: /gary
:
:
:
: "Jeffrey Randow (MVP)" <jeffreyr-support@remotenetworktechnology.com>
wrote
: in message news:jmnhvv8cs32jogqh3b0go59bam8pdm2d5h@4ax.com...
: : The best examples are at
: :
:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...st/default.asp
: :
: : Note that if the users are behind a NAT firewall and you are on the
: : internet, you may have difficulties with Remote Assistance. In this
: : case, you should have a VPN connection into the remote LAN.
: :
: : Jeffrey Randow (Windows Net. & Smart Display MVP)
: : jeffreyr-support@remotenetworktechnology.com
: :
: : Please post all responses to the newsgroups for the benefit
: : of all USENET users. Messages sent via email may or may not
: : be answered depending on time availability....
: :
: : Remote Networking Technology Support Site -
: : http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com
: : Smart Display Support - http://www.smartdisplays.net
: : Windows XP Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
: :
: : On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 08:29:15 -0600, "Gary McDonnell"
: : <garymcdonnell@hotmail.com> wrote:
: :
: : >Hi all,
: : >
: : >In the past I've always used PCAnywhere to do remote control of servers
: and
: : >workstations. I've just put in a Windows 2003 server for a client and
I'd
: : >like to use the Remote Assistance feature instead if possible, but I
: don't
: : >know beans about this capability.
: : >
: : >I set up a remote desktop connection easily enough, but that gives me a
: : >separate session. I need to control the "main" session on the server
: instead
: : >for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the desire of the
: client
: : >to follow along by watching the screen as I do things.
: : >
: : >Might someone point me to some resources on how to set this up, if it's
: : >possible, or give me some pointers on the matter?
: : >
: : >Many thanks!
: : >
: : >/gary
: :
: